Top-ranked Duke takes on Santa Clara

Durham, NC (Sports Network) - One of just three unbeatens left in the nation,
the top-ranked Duke Blue Devils close out the 2012 portion of their schedule
as they welcome the surprising Santa Clara Broncos to Durham on Saturday
afternoon.

Mike Krzyzewski's Blue Devils are sitting atop the national rankings thanks to
11 straight wins, including three over top-five foes. More recently, Duke kept
its unblemished record intact with a 76-54 rout of Elon. The win over the
Phoenix was the 100th straight non-conference win at Cameron Indoor Stadium
for the Blue Devils.

The Broncos are a perfect 3-0 in true road games this season for the first
time since 1993-94. Kerry Keating's squad is an impressive 11-2 overall. The
team has won six straight games, including capturing its own Cable Car Classic
crown with a 69-45 pasting of Wagner last weekend. Santa Clara is 0-11 against
top-ranked foes all-time.

Duke has won both previous meetings with Santa Clara.

A strong offensive teams flexed its defensive muscles against Wagner in the
title game of the Cable Car Classic, as Santa Clara held the visitors to 45
points on a mere 30 percent shooting, while forcing 17 turnovers. The Broncos
were a little off their game offensively, connecting on just 41.5 percent from
the floor and nearly 10 points under their season average. Marc Trasolini led
the way with 23 points in the win. Evan Roquemore followed with a double-
double consisting of 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Brandon Clark added 13
points off the bench.

On the season, Santa Clara is averaging a solid 78.8 ppg, doing so on .451
shooting. The scoring depth is spearheaded by Kevin Foster, Trasolini and
Roquemore. Foster is shooting under 40 percent from the field overall, but
leads the team with 18.2 ppg. Trasolini pours in 16.2 ppg and is tops on the
team in rebounding at just under eight boards per game (7.8). Roquemore is
both a solid scorer at 13.8 ppg and a deft distributor with a team-high 6.5
apg.

The Blue Devils are in their lofty position thanks to stellar play at both
ends of the floor. The team is averaging 80.4 ppg, while enjoying a +18.9
scoring margin. Duke has shot the ball well, converting 48.3 percent from the
floor overall, including 41 percent from behind the arc. All five starters are
averaging double figures, led by the low post dominance of Mason Plumlee. The
6-foot-10 senior is shooting .641 from the field and leads the team in both
scoring (19.3 ppg) and rebounding (11.5 rpg). Seth Curry provides the perfect
perimeter balance with 15.7 ppg. Freshman Rasheed Sulaimon has made an
immediate impact with 12.7 ppg, while Ryan Kelly and Quinn Cook add 12.6 and
10.4 ppg, respectively.

Despite shooting a modest .433 from the floor overall, Duke was an impressive
57.9 percent accurate from 3-point range (11-of-19), leading to a lopsided win
over Elon. The Phoenix had no answer for Plumlee, who posted yet another
double-double with game-highs of 21 points and 15 boards. Kelly added 14
points, while Sulaimon and Cook chipped in with 13 and 10 points,
respectively.